'Julius Caesar' 15 / Händel 'Voi che mie fide ancelle' * JANET BAKER * ENO * [in English]

Fifteenth of *selected* excerpts from the English National Opera's production of Georg Friedrich Händel's 'Julius Caesar' ('Giulio Cesare in Egitto') [1984]. This version uses an excellent English translation by Brian Trowell of the libretto from the Italian original by Nicola Haym. Productions such as this one make a strong case for viable - nay, enjoyable and intelligible - English-language versions of non-English language operas.

Dame Janet Baker leads an excellent cast in performing this Baroque masterpiece, and holds forth marvellously, dispensing with aplomb ornamentations galore - besides creating a more three-dimensional Cesare.

In this excerpt, Cleopatra is held captive by her brother/husband/co-regent, King Ptolemy, and takes her final leave of her servants before her death, which looms near: 'Ladies, my faithful servants' ('Voi che mie fide ancelle').

Caesar and his soldiers arrive in time to save Cleopatra, who is happy to see Caesar alive. After Caesar exits, Cleopatra sings: 'Stormy winds my ship have shaken' ('Da tempeste il legno infranto').

Julius Caesar . . . Janet Baker
Cleopatra . . . Valerie Masterson

Chorus & Orchestra of the English National Opera
Victor Morris, Chorus Master
Charles Mackerras, Conductor
John Copley, Producer (Director)

Recorded at Limehouse Studios in 1984
in London's Docklands

==========

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Julius
• Caesar
• Giulio
• Cesare
• Ladies
• my
• faithful
• servants
• Voi
• che
• mie
• fide
• ancelle
• Stormy
• winds
• Da
• tempeste
• Janet
• Baker
• Handel
• ENO
• English
• National
• Opera
• Charles
• Mackerras
• John
• Copley

[nuggie9511]

Janet baker is amazing but this is still miscast lol Should be a man playing that role.

[areadene]

oh my god! Really good!!